Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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211. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons that will comprise the recently announced high level market access committee within his Department; the number of civil servants that will work exclusively on this dedicated committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22558/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Irish food and drink exports increased by 2% in 2016 to reach €11.15 billion and Ireland exports food and drink to around 180 countries all over the world. The Department is especially committed now, against the backdrop of Brexit, to further increase market access for Irish food and drink internationally, especially for the meat and dairy sectors.  Indeed this principle was already a key component of Food Wise 2025.

While we have achieved significant success in recent years in conjunction with the various stakeholders such as such as Bord Bia, the industry, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and its Embassies abroad to increase the number of markets to which we enjoy access, there is always room for improvement.

The work required to unlock markets draws in people from many different strands of my Department including veterinary, technical and administrative. The High Level Market Access Committee will operate as a sub committee of the management board. It will be chaired by an Assistant Secretary General and will include senior veterinary, technical and administrative staff from relevant divisions to ensure that the work or the Department across different strands of market access is co-ordinated and effective. It is not intended that officials will be working exclusively on this committee.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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212. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of civil servants in his Department allocated to work exclusively on market access; the number of persons that work on market access exclusively for the sectors of beef, dairy, lamb, pig meat and poultry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22559/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Irish food and drink exports increased by 2% in 2016 to reach €11.15 billion and Ireland exports food and drink to around 180 countries all over the world. One of the Department’s priorities now, particularly in the context of Brexit, is to further increase the market opportunity for Irish food and drink internationally, especially for the meat and dairy sectors. Indeed this principle of market development is already a key component of Food Wise 2025. We have achieved significant successes in recent years in conjunction with the various stakeholders to increase the number of markets to which we enjoy access.

In terms of beef market access, 2016 saw some considerable successes including the extension of our beef market access to the USA to include Beef Intended for Grinding (BIFG) as well as the opening of the Canadian, New Zealand and Israeli beef markets. Significant steps were also taken in terms of beef market access to China, South Korea and Vietnam in conjunction with the Trade Mission there. 2017 has already seen the re-opening of the Egyptian market to Irish beef and beef exports have now commenced. It has also seen the extension of our beef market access to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to include a range of minced and processed beef products, as part of my Trade Mission there. 

My Department is also working on expanding market access for sheepmeat, pigmeat, poultry and cooked meats across a range of markets and is also working to simplify certification procedures in a number of markets to which we already have access. 

The meat market access work involves staff across the department, including veterinary services, laboratory staff, inspectorate staff, International Trade Division and a wide range of other divisions, in completing market access questionnaires, facilitating incoming inspection visits, participating in diplomatic meetings, agreeing export health certificates etc. All of this inter-connected work facilitates the accessing of new markets, and on the meat side  is co-ordinated by a dedicated market access unit comprising five people.  The unit also works very closely with external stakeholders such as Bord Bia, the industry, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and its Embassies abroad. I have committed to providing additional resources to for market access unit and am at present making the necessary arrangements.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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213. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the completion date for the review of export markets in which conditions of certification present barriers to trade and additional costs for exporters. [22560/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Ireland exports food and drink to around 180 countries all over the world and Irish food and drink exports increased by 2% in 2016 to reach €11.15 billion. One of the Department’s main priorities now, particularly in the context of Brexit, is to further increase the market opportunity for Irish food and drink internationally, especially for the meat and dairy sectors.  Indeed this principle of market development is already a key component of Food Wise 2025. We have achieved significant successes in recent years in conjunction with the various stakeholders to increase the number of markets to which we enjoy access.

While a major and high profile part of the work involves getting new markets opened; maintaining access to existing markets and improving and enhancing the level of access to previously opened markets and changing the current veterinary health certificate conditions is also of paramount importance.

For example in terms of beef market access, 2016 saw the extension of our beef market access to the USA to include Beef Intended for Grinding (BIFG), exports of which have now commenced. And 2017 has seen the extension of our beef market access to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to include a range of minced and processed beef products, as part of my Trade Mission there. Some technical steps remain to be taken here before exports will commence.

However, despite the significant successes achieved to date, I reviewed the Department's approach to market access at present and one of the findings was that there should be a review of export markets which are open but where there are barriers to trade. For example in relation to beef some of these barriers or costs could include the requirements for BSE testing on cattle, only cattle aged under 30 months being accepted or conditions that the meat be boneless only. Certificates and conditions with different Third countries have evolved at different times and some of these restrictions may be related to historical issues.

This review is now complete and my Department now consulting with industry to identify priorities. I should say of course that the conditions for importing beef are a matter for the competent authorities in the importing country. I would envisage that this work will continue on an ongoing basis as needs arise.